Biblical Problems

- 13 - BIBLICAL PROBLEMS FR PAUL KARIAMADOM The Envious Servants (Mt 20.18)

When we use a human criterion, the complaint of the workers called first in the parable of the vineyard, seems to be justified. Those who worked the whole day should be given higher wages than those who worked for only one hour. But here all are given equal wages. If the householder is a symbol of God, does it not seem that God is unjust? Is God not obliged to give everyone what he deserves? Such doubts will naturally arise in those who read this parable.

The structure of the parable
This parable is presented like a play in three scenes. In the first scene is the action of the householder who hires labourers at five different times(cf Mt 20:1-7). The first set of labourers are promised the prevalent daily wages of one denarius. Later, he hires more labourers at the third hour, sixth hour , ninth hour, and the eleventh hour. He promises just wages to all. The Jews reckoned the day as beginning at six in the morning and ending at six in the evening. The third hour in the parable is for us nine in the morning and the eleventh hour is for us the fifth hour in the evening.

The second scene is the manner of paying the labourers (cf 20:8-12). All of them, beginning from those who came last to those who came first, receive one denarius. Even though those who came first wish they will receive more, they too receive only one denarius. The meaning of the parable is not that the last shall be the first and the first shall be the last (20:16).

In the last scene we have the discussion between the householder and the dissatisfied labourers who toiled all day long (20:13-15). Their complaint is that those who came last are considered equal to those who came first and paid accordingly. The householder replies that he has done no injustice. Does he not have the right to do whatever he likes with his possessions(20:15)? "Do you begrudge my generosity? " he asks.

The message of the parable
The householder is a symbol of God. There are two things that are clear from the reply of the householder. God loves all . The first message is that the good God is one who does not consider the worth of the man but gives his gifts to him according to his need. We should never consider his generosity as injustice. The numerous blessings and gifts given freely to us should never be claimed as our due. We cannot earn them with our own ability (cf Eph 2:8-9). All men have the right to and are worthy of their daily bread. Therefore the Lord is giving those who came last as well as those who were called first what they need. In short, the latter too receive the food necessary for the day. God is showing them infinite mercy. What is required for a day's food is only one denarius (the Roman silver coin of denarius is equivalent to eight rupees). That much is given to all. It is true that those who came first worked hard and long. They were happy they could support their families as a result of their work. Their wish was fulfilled by their employer. They had entered into a contract with him regarding their wages. The second class of people did not bargain about the wages but let the employer do as he wished. The householder had told them, "I'll give you just wage". So the truth is that the householder has done nothing unjust to anyone.

God's justice is to feed and care for everyone. He lets the rain fall on the just and unjust alike (cf Mt 6:35). He does not exclude the wicked because of his love. Very often it is difficult for us to acknowledge this sort of divine justice.

This parable reminds us that our pride in our ability and worth is totally destroyed in the presence of God's generosity. This parable is, therefore, sometimes called "the crazy householder's parable". When socialism demands that wages should be paid to each according to his work, genuine Christian communism requires that to each be given according to his need. In an age of unemployment, the action of the householder giving wages not only according to the labour, but also taking the need of the workers into account ,speaks of his large - heartedness.

Early entry into the Church does not entitle us to obtain a reward. Whatever be the time when we are called to the membership of the Church, ours is a call to complete participation. The patriarchs Jacob, Joseph, the prodigal son, the good thief, and St Paul were all called last to the service of God. The "first" must be ready to congratulate and encourage the spiritual and material growth of the "last". The word of God, "So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy"(Rom 9:16), is relevant in this context. God has the right to show favour and mercy to whomsoever he wills (cf Ex 33:19).

Presuming that we can believe in Jesus just before our death,we should not reject God's call. If we reject God's first call, it is not certain we will get another. Each of us has the duty to receive the word of Jesus and imitate his attitude, and labour hard and vigilantly.

The Pharisees and lawyers, who knew the weight of the law and its demands, were not pleased at all with Jesus who called sinners and tax collectors and worthless people to his kingdom. This parable takes a critical approach to their hypocrisy and lust for power.

Love does not envy
Another message we infer from this parable is that the labourers called first to work are envious. Envy is a sin against love. It is the poison of society."Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous" (Mt 20:15)? asks the householder. A man's selfishness makes him envious. He should realise and admit another's needs just as he does his own. Let us remember the golden rule: "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Lk 6:31). In the early centuries, there was not so much of production and wealth. One man's gain was considered another's loss. In the light of this, those who murmured were thinking of the gain that should have been theirs. They were not thinking of or grasping the eternal and boundless goodness and generosity of God.

The truth is that this mentality is prevalent in the society of today. Modern man is not satisfied. Consumerism is greedy to gain more and more and increase one's possessions. What we see today is the fact of the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer. We need to meditate on God's justice and liberality. He loves all men equally. He is ready to give food for one day more to everyone. "Give us this day our daily bread," we say in the Lord's Prayer. Ex 16:16-21 makes it clear that when we amass wealth or food avariciously, it will be eaten up by moths.

If only each man would give up his selfishness, and share the goods of this world in love, it will be seen that this world has enough wealth for all. We can participate in the loving God's liberality, if, eschewing all envy and the propensity to possess things for ourselves, we share our wealth with our brothers and sisters in love.